Posted on 05/18/2007 9:06:58 AM PDT by Jakarta ex-pat
ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
THE God Delusion - based on Richard Dawkins' book The God Delusion - is the best documentary I've ever seen. And, I imagine, will ever see. No jokes. No smart-arse cracks. No witty asides.
Dawkins is a scientist and passionate atheist who has produced a stunning, thoroughly researched and expertly executed work that flatly denies the existence of God and illustrates what a destructive force religion is. Even in its mildest form. This provocative and entertaining ride will have some believers coming out the other end as atheists. And every Bible basher, Torah toter and Koran carrier calling the ABC to complain.
As I watched this masterpiece unfold, I couldn't remember the last time I had seen something so brilliant on the idiot box. Dawkins unapologetically refuses to treat religion differently to any other subject. There is no tiptoeing in fear of "offending" anyone (how you can offend people with truth is beyond me). Dawkins has harnessed his skill as a scientist, his hunger for truth and his rage to prove that God is a delusion that's infecting the world. He refers to "the process of non-thinking called faith" and bemoans "that the idea of a divine creator belittles the elegant reality of the universe". He liberates the viewer with the conclusion that "atheism is life-affirming in a way religion can never be".
Atheists will watch this show and feel as if they have died and gone to heaven as they see a bloke far more smarterer than themselves poke that animal in the cage. The fundamentalists, the evangelicals, the dabblers and the moderates all cop it. Dawkins dismembers the lot with a scalpel. It's intoxicating for born-again atheists like myself. I have taken the Flying Spaghetti Monster as my Lord and personal saviour. That's right. I am a Pastafarian.
Atheism is, it seems, the new black. Dawkins' offering will not simply be preaching to the converted but actually convert fence-sitters with truth and reason.
Dawkins describes the God of the Old Testament as "the most unpleasant character in all fiction. Jealous and proud of it. Petty, vindictive, unforgiving and racist. An ethnic cleanser urging his people on to acts of genocide."
Then Moses cops it. Dawkins quotes a Bible story and asks: "How is this story morally distinguishable from Hitler's rape of Poland or Saddam Hussein's massacre of the Kurds or the Marsh Arabs?"
Dawkins' masterful command of the language and his glorious Britishness is a delight throughout: "So Jesus had himself tortured and executed for a symbolic sin by a non-existent individual. Nobody not bought up in the faith could reach to any verdict other than barking mad." He tells us that "killing for God is not just hideous murder but utterly ridiculous".
On Sunday night, if you listen carefully, you'll hear atheists all over Australia leaning back in their chairs, putting their feet on the coffee table and saying, "I'm with him." And I'll be one of them.
Brilliant observation; wish I had it during my History of Science class.
People like Dawkins believe in the evolution of man which has less evidence of facts than the Bible has of the same of what is written in it; yet he goes through whoops to prove the first and disprove the latter.
I see your point.
I simply crave much more than this mortal world can ever give me.I truly feel that I have utilized the smallest fraction of what my potentials are.I see the so called”Afterlife”as a chance to redeem my self and show what I am made of.
An illusion?Possibly.But one I must hold on to in order to maintain my sanity.
[I.. simply cannot comprehend the end of my mortal existence.... That underlines the ultimate reason why people want to believe in the supernatural]
No sir- that’s false- the reason people seek God is because of a universal moral code that convicts them of their sin- This universal moral code is instilled in ALL hearts, and people seek a way to allay that sense of lostness. Folks not brought up in Christian teachings and infact in quite evil settings where one would argue a universal moral code is a subjective nature, have confessed to never feeling right about doing the evil despite having been raised to think it was alright. They confess to knowing somethign wasn’t right- that still small voice inside that convicted them- 5that universal moral code that is engraved on each of our souls.
You say you earnestly looked, yet I have to doubt it was earnest. As I mentioned before- it’s quite easy to blind ourselves to God’s voice- it’s all just a matter of how committed we are to not finding the convicting truth. No God, no admitted sense of sin- no need for a Savior. It takes a big person to be broken- Me thinks you dun like the idea of brokeness- and this isn’t a slam- I certainly didn’t like it either and resisted it as long as I could too. You really want to find God? It’s very very simple- get on your knees, confess that you’re a sinner, and ask Christ into your heart- It’s simple and free- but perhaps the hardest thing a person can ever do. You see abstaining from listening to your conscience as a strength, yet it’s not- it takes far more strength to go to the throne of God and confess that He is Lord. The pride you feel in yourself is quite evident, and this isn’t a criticism, but it’s plain to see. Most religions cater to this pride nature and will never see the light of heaven
Religion wasn’t ‘created to control the masses’ it was GIVEN by God to His creation- Some churche’s might abuse the priveledge of their position, yet your claim is false.
[The irony is that this fear will only last as long as one is alive]
That’s a mighty big bet based on nothign more than an opinion Carrots. Spose you’re wrong? There is no second chances whereby you’ll be able to say ‘whoops’
And btw- I had an NDE, and there was no bright light tunnel- No euphoria- quite the opposite- I went the other way, not to heaven. I’ll not state that it was a literal experience because I simply don’t know- I feel it was due to lack of oxygen to the brain and A high fever, but it was a definate NDE with Docs reviving me and all. It was enough for me to tell anyoen that will listen that hell aint gonna be no party- you don’t want to end up there- not when there is such an easy way to avoid it.
So, when this chimpanzee from one group kills a member from another, both were atheists?
What about Jewish upbringing, or Buddhist, or Hindu? If there really was this one one and only God, there wouldn't be so many "software fixes and updates" sent our way.
Arjuna:
Of those who love you as the Lord of Love,
Ever present in all, and those who seek you
As the nameless, formless Reality,
Which way is sure and swift, love or knowledge?
Krishna:
For those who set their hearts on me
And worship me with unfailing devotion and faith,
The way of love leads sure and swift to me.
Those who seek the transcendental Reality,
Unmanifested, without name or form,
Beyond the reach of feeling and of thought,
With their senses subdued and mind serene
And striving for the good of all beings,
They too will verily come unto me.
Yet hazardous
And slow is the path to the Unrevealed,
Difficult for physical man to tread.
But they for whom I am the goal supreme,
Who do all work renouncing self for me
And meditate on me with single-hearted devotion,
These will I swiftly rescue
From the fragment's cycle of birth and death
To fullness of eternal life in me.
Still your mind in me, still yourself in me,
And without doubt you shall be united with me,
Lord of Love, dwelling in your heart.
But if you cannot still your mind in me,
Learn to do so through the practice of meditation.
If you lack the will for such self-discipline,
Engage yourself in selfless service of all around you,
For selfless service can lead you at last to me.
If you are unable to do even this,
Surrender yourself to me in love,
Receiving success and failure with equal calmness
As granted by me.
Better indeed is knowledge than mechanical practice.
Better than knowledge is meditation.
But better still is surrender in love,
Because there follows immediate peace.
That one I love who is incapable of ill will,
And returns love for hatred.
Living beyond the reach of I and mine
And of pleasure and pain, full of mercy,
Contented, self-controlled, firm in faith,
With all their heart and all their mind given to me –
With such people I am in love.
Not agitating the world or by it agitated,
They stand above the sway of elation,
Competition, and fear, accepting life
Good and bad as it comes. They are pure,
Efficient, detached, ready to meet every demand
I make on them as a humble instrument of my work.
They are dear to me who run not after the pleasant
Or away from the painful, grieve not
Over the past, lust not today,
But let things come and go as they happen.
Who serve both friend and foe with equal love,
Not buoyed up by praise or cast down by blame,
Alike in heat and cold, pleasure and pain,
Free from selfish attachments and self-will,
Ever full, in harmony everywhere,
Firm in faith – such as these are dear to me.
But dearest to me are those who seek me
In faith and love as life's eternal goal.
They go beyond death to immortality.
Krishna:
Those who are free from selfish attachments,
Who have mastered the senses and passions,
Act not, but are acted through by the Lord.
Listen to me now, O son of Kunti,
How one who has become an instrument
In the hands of the Lord attains the Absolute,
The supreme consummation of wisdom.
Unerring in discrimination,
Sovereign of the senses and passions,
Free from the clamor of likes and dislikes,
They lead a simple, self–reliant life
Based on meditation, using speech,
Body, and mind to serve the Lord of Love.
Free from self–will, aggressiveness, arrogance,
From the lust to possess people or things,
They are at peace with themselves and others
And enter into the unitive state.
United with the Lord, ever joyful,
Beyond the reach of self–will and sorrow,
They serve me in every living creature
And attain supreme devotion to me.
By loving me they share in my glory
And enter into my boundless being.
All their acts are performed in my service,
And through my grace they win eternal life.
Make every act an offering to me;
Regard me as your only protector.
Make every thought an offering to me;
Meditate on me always.
Drawing upon your deepest resources,
You shall overcome all difficulties
Through my grace. But if you will not heed me
In your self–will, nothing will avail you.
If you say, “I will not fight this battle,”
Your own nature will drive you into it.
If you will not fight the battle of life,
Your own karma will drive you into it.
The Lord dwells in the hearts of all creatures,
And he whirls them round on the wheel of time.
Run to him for refuge with all your strength
And peace profound will be yours through his grace.
I give you these precious words of wisdom;
Reflect on them and then choose what is best.
These are the last words I shall speak to you,
Dear one, for your spiritual fulfillment.
Be aware of me always, adore me,
Make every act an offering to me,
And you shall come to me;
This I promise, for you are dear to me.
Leave all other support, and look to me
For protection. I shall purify you
From the sins of the past. Do not grieve.
Do not share this wisdom with anyone
Who lacks in devotion or self–control,
Lacks the desire to learn, or who scoffs at me.
Those who teach this supreme mystery
Of the Gita to all those who love me
Will come to me without doubt. No one
Can render me more devoted service;
No one on earth can be more dear to me.
Those who meditate on these holy words
Worship me with wisdom and devotion.
Even those who listen to them with faith,
Free from doubts, will find a happier world.
Have you fully understood my message?
Are you free from your doubts and delusions?
Arjuna:
You have dispelled my doubts and delusions
And made me ready to fight this battle.
My faith is firm now, and I will do your will.
Krishna:
I am the same to all beings. My love
Is the same always. Nevertheless, those
Who meditate on me with devotion,
They dwell in me, and I shine forth in them.
Even the worst sinner becomes a saint
When he loves me with all his heart. This love
Will soon transform his personality
And fill his heart with peace profound.
O son of Kunti, this is my promise:
Those who love me, they shall never perish.
-Excerpts from the Bhagawad Gita (The Song of the Lord).
Sure, Riverman94610, if you’ve found peace, it’s all that matters.
Not peace,just a vague sort of purpose.
Yet thanks for your insight.The old thinking cap was in high gear.
Still, it’s important that you’ve got what you’ve been looking for.
I think so too,Carrot.The journey continues.
Oh, it's done everyday...in spades.
No, chimpanzees are United Methodists. I mean, it was the United Methodists who were the first to allow panzees to be church members in good standing.
“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.”
Hamlet (I, v, 166-167)
Sensei, your good; put me on your ping list!
[What about Jewish upbringing, or Buddhist, or Hindu? If there really was this one one and only God, there wouldn’t be so many “software fixes and updates” sent our way.]
There are no true updates, as I said- practically everyone of those religions appeals to the pride nature- savign yourself- working to attain salvation- enlightenm,ent- call it whatever you wish- but all of them lack one central key element- Salvation through Jesus Christ- All of them ignore God’s word and propose to offer a ‘superior’ belief, however, a religion peddling somethign other than what God Himself said is not peddling superiority but quite rrankly a misleading religion.
How do I know God’s word is true? Because Christ Hismelf confirms it’s true- Not some man- not some set of self imposed rules, not some ‘enlightened’ person- but God Himself!
It is fully expected that there would be so many different religions because man’s pride will simply not allow himself to break and confess that Christ is Lord- so it’s not surprising that all these different flavors of ‘religion’ exist- trying to entice people to follow their rules,- misery love company, and beleive me, no matter how content they may seem on the outside, their hearts are still hardened on the inside and they simply will not bow a knee and admit that it is ALL God, and nothing we do will ever save ourselves- that digs at a person’s sense of pride and self. it grates against our sense of self reliance.
Your post 147- I assume you’re pointing Gcuse to the fact that I had a NDE- if so, I’ll elaborate furhter if interested. I wrote about it here on FR before- but I’ll just briefly state it was a freakey deakey deal- somethign that shook me for a long time-
As I stated before- I persoanlly think that the fever and neurons misfiring had somethign to do with it but I’ll not take a strong stand on that as I simply don’t know for sure. Experts studying NDE’s aren’t even sure if it’s literal death experiences or not- but regardless, what I experienced was only a small taste of what hell will be like, and it was overwhelming.
Anyway- it’s too late tonight to go into the details of what happened, but if anyone interested, I’ll tell what happened and what I experienced- whether in my mind out out of body, I’m not sure, but I don’t put too much weight on finding out which one way or the other- it was the experience itself and what was seen/felt/heard/experienced that was the underlying importance in my opinion.
It's interesting you should say that. God and I had a little chat yesterday and somewhere along the way this subject came up.
God said someting along the lines of "Of course God's word is true. It's not a question of how do you know God's word is true; it's more a question of, "Do you know God's Word?"
He said people who read about fruit but have never tasted an apple do not know an apple's truth.
He said you could read, about apples, to a man all the days of his life and while he might then know a great deal about apples, he would not know Apple.
He said knowing about God is not the same as knowing God. He said some believe they can know about God in the same moment they know God, but that this is not true. Knowing God is beyond the filter of the mind.
I have not quoted His words exactly because sometimes when we chat He doesn't use language.
Pretty ironic as that is exactly how atheists respond when presented the truth....offended. And then some run off to make movies of this sort. /shrug
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.